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EXCLUSIVE | Leslie Smith sees Rizin, Bellator and BKB as potential next steps in fighting career
Leslie Smith has been fighting professionally since 2009. However, the former UFC bantamweight contender hasn’t fought since July 2017. Smith, who is on a two-fight winning streak with victories over Irene Aldana and Amanda Lemos, was set to take on Aspen Ladd at UFC Fight Night 128 in April, but unfortunately, this plan was derailed. […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Coach Eddie Bravo hopeful Tony Ferguson will choke Pettis, set up fight with McGregor
This Saturday night, in the co-main event of UFC 229, Tony Ferguson will return from a nasty LCL injury to take on former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis in a key lightweight contender bout. According to Ferguson’s Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach Eddie Bravo, this brutal LCL injury is now soundly in the rear-view mirror. We won’t be […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Anthony ‘Lionheart’ Smith talks Volkan Oezdemir, new weight class, and Jon Jones
Perhaps no fighter is a better example of what fighting at a more natural weight class can do for your fighting career than Anthony ‘Lionheart’ Smith. Smith has had a career rebirth so to speak this year. The 30-year-old fighter from Omaha, Nebraska has typically been a middleweight fighter in his career. Lately, however, Smith […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Alton Cunningham is emulating McGregor, Dillashaw, Khabib on the road to greatness
One of the Midwest’s most promising middleweight prospects, Alton “The Bo-Man” Cunningham is ready to take the next step in his young career when he takes on Victor Jones at Pure FC 10 on October 20. If his name rings a bell, it’s likely you recognize The Bo-Man from his Dana White Tuesday Night Contender Series […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Coach wants Khabib Nurmagomedov to fight Ferguson, GSP next, but retirement is also possible
This Saturday’s UFC 229 title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor is all anybody can talk about these days. This massive lightweight title fight between undefeated reigning champion and history-making former champion is dominating the headlines and airwaves, and is likely to continue doing so until well after the fight itself has drawn to a […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Khabib Nurmagomedov coach Javier Mendez praises ‘great fighter’ Conor McGregor
This Saturday night, in the main event of UFC 229, undefeated UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will attempt to defend his title opposite former UFC lightweight and featherweight champ Conor McGregor. While Khabib Nurmagomedov has faced some strong opposition in the past, such as Rafael dos Anjos, Michael Johnson, and Edson Barboza, Conor McGregor is […]
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Aung La N Sang: Myanmar’s new beacon of hope and unity
It is instinctive for people to look for someone to idolize, look up to and imitate. Someone from whom they draw strength and inspiration from, to go on with their lives towards where they want to go and what they want to be. This is the reason why people look up to the rich and […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Tim Johnson ready to make his name in the Bellator cage
Recently signed heavyweight fighter Tim Johnson plans on opening some eyes at Bellator 208 when he takes on Cheick Kongo in a feature main card bout. Johnson, 33, signed with the Viacom owned promotion after going a very respectable 4-3 inside the Octagon. He holds notable victories over Shamil Abdurakhimov, Marcin Tybura, and Daniel Omielańczuk while […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Coach Javier Mendez is confident Khabib Nurmagomedov’s injury issues are in the past
Khabib Nurmagomedov has long been considered one of the best lightweights in the world, but for a time between 2014 and 2016, his standing in the division was seriously hurt by his inability to stay healthy. During that period, Khabib Nurmagomedov was scheduled for three fights — two with Donald Cerrone, and one with Tony […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Jimmie Rivera ‘I just had to fight like that to get the win’ in fight with Dodson
Jimmie Rivera suffered a devastating 33-second knockout loss to Marlon Moraes at June’s UFC Fight Night event in Utica. The loss snapped a twenty-fight win streak for “El Terror” and came at a great cost. Had he defeated Moraes, Rivera most likely would have been granted the next title shot at T.J. Dillashaw, but after the […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Javier Mendez not confident Khabib Nurmagomedov will take ‘safe route’ and wrestle Conor McGregor
On October 6, in the main event of UFC 229, UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will attempt to defend his title against former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor. Given that Conor McGregor is one of the most feared strikers in UFC history, many fans and pundits feel Khabib Nurmagomedov would be wise to […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Bellator 206’s Dakota Zimmerman ‘excited’ to play the underdog role in MMA debut vs Keri Melendez
At Bellator 206 this Saturday night, the highly skilled counterpart to Gilbert Melendez, Keri Melendez welcomes newcomer Dakota Zimmerman to the ranks of the pros. Although Melendez is only 2-0 in her professional MMA career, she has built up a solid reputation as a kickboxer thus earning her a deserved spotlight. In Melendez’ third pro bout, […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Jimmie Rivera hopes to team up with Aljamain Sterling to end the Dillashaw-Cruz-Garbrandt dynasty
The UFC bantamweight division is ruled by three men, all of whom have worn the divisional belt in the last few years. One is TJ Dillashaw, the reigning champion. The second is former champion Dominick Cruz, who is the last man to defeat Dillashaw. The other is former champion Cody Garbrandt, who ended Cruz’s title […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Bellator prospect Aaron Pico heaps praise on training partner TJ Dillashaw
On Saturday, on the main card of Bellator 206, one of the most highly regarded prospects in all of MMA, Aaron Pico, will be taking on Leandro Higo. Pico is looking to continue his run in the featherweight division to an eventual title shot. While many believe Pico is destined to be a future champion, […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Javier Mendez feels Conor McGregor crossed line with trash talk, but Khabib Nurmagomedov was not affected
The UFC 229 press conference, which featured UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and his upcoming opponent Conor McGregor, produced all of the trash talk and saber-rattling we anticipated. Most of that trash talk, of course, came from McGregor, who is as known for his gift of gab as he is for his fistic proficiency. While […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Aaron Pico plans to take out Leandro Higo, continue march toward Bellator title
Aaron Pico (3-1) has only been competing as a professional mixed martial artist for a little over a year. Yet in this short timeframe, the American wrestler has managed to establish himself as one of the most promising prospects on the Bellator roster — and he’s done so with a trio of thunderous knockout wins, […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Douglas Lima hoping to avenge loss to Rory MacDonald, but also keen to fight ‘new face’ in Grand Prix final
In his last fight, which went down January, Douglas Lima surrendered the Bellator welterweight title to reigning champion Rory MacDonald, losing a close decision to the Canadian. So long as he performs well in his upcoming Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix matchups, starting with his Bellator 206, scrap with Andrey Koreshkov, Lima could easily have the […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Douglas Lima excited to set high bar for Bellator welterweight tournament fights
Bellator’s anticipated Welterweight Grand Prix, which will see Rory MacDonald, Douglas Lima, Andrey Koreshkov, Jon Fitch, Paul Daley, Michael Page, Neiman Gracie and Ed Ruth battle for welterweight gold, is almost here. The first tournament bout occurs on the main card of the stacked Bellator 206 on September 29, when former champions Douglas Lima and […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Aaron Pico ready to keep on shining at Bellator 206, ‘if you don’t like pressure then this isn’t for you’
Arguably the best MMA prospect in the entire world is California native Aaron Pico. Pico grew up around fighting, he was a wrestler growing up and became one of the best in America. He would go onto win the Cadet World Championship in 2013. He followed that by coming second and third in 2014 and […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Devin Clark needs to win at UFC 231 for financial reasons
There is no question about it. The top fighters in the UFC make a pretty penny, while the fighters competing on the prelims often struggle to get by. This has been a huge concern for several fighters, some of whom have attempted to start a fighter’s union to improve things, though these efforts have not […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Devin Clark ‘I actually really like this matchup’ against Aleksander Rakic
Devin Clark will be fighting inside the Octagon very shortly at UFC 231 on December 8 in Toronto against Aleksander Rakic, who is currently 2-0 in the UFC. While both Clark and Rakic are currently unranked, the fight should bring fireworks as both have knockout power. However, even though the fight should be a fun […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Santiago Ponzinibbio ‘really excited to come back’ after slow start to 2018
Santiago Ponzinibbio will finally be making his long-awaited return to the Octagon at home in Argentina as the main event on Nov. 17 against Neil Magny for UFC Fight Night 140. Ponzinibbio last fought in Dec. 2017 where he defeated Mike Perry by unanimous decision. However, following the fight against Perry, Santiago Ponzinibbio was looking to […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Gokhan Saki reflects on KO loss to Khalil Rountree, fires back at doubters
Back in July, on the main card of UFC 226, kickboxing legend Gokhan Saki stepped into the UFC’s Octagon to do battle with rising light heavyweight contender Khalil Rountree. Heading into this fight, the widespread expectation was that Saki would have a significant edge in the striking department. Unfortunately for Saki and his legions of […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Gokhan Saki on potential fight with Mark Hunt: “I want to give him the proper goodbye fight he deserves”
Having healed up from a tough, July loss to Khalil Rountree, kickboxing legend Gokhan Saki is now looking forward to his next challenge in the UFC’s Octagon. And while the Turkish knockout artist matches up beautifully with a great many of his peers in the UFC light heavyweight division, he’s recently been linked to a […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Santiago Ponzinibbio believes finish of Neil Magny will prove he’s ready for title shot
In 2017, Argentina’s Santiago Ponzinibbio burst into welterweight title contention with a decision defeat of Nordine Taleb, an 82-second knockout of Gunnar Nelson, and a thrilling decision triumph over “Platinum” Mike Perry. Unfortunately, he’s yet to fight in 2018 thanks to a serious hand injury that ultimately required surgery. While 2018 has not been particularly […]
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EXCLUSIVE | UFC newcomer Bobby Moffett eyeing second-round D’arce choke against Chas Skelly
When fighters make their UFC debuts, they’re generally given opponents of similar experience levels. This will not be the case for featherweight prospect Bobby Moffett (13-3). Shortly after earning himself a UFC contract with an impressive D’arce choke win on an August episode of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series, Moffett was matched up with […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Devin Clark on long layoff ahead of UFC 231: “If you starve a dog you’re going to get an angry dog”
Devin Clark’s path to the UFC involved getting noticed on the reality show ‘Dana White Looking for a Fight,’ where he won the RFA Light Heavyweight Championship. Since that moment where White announced he was going to sign the South Dakota native, Clark has had aspirations to capture the UFC light heavyweight title. Clark lost […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Colby Covington doubtful UFC gives Tyron Woodley UFC 230 main event spot “cause they hate him”
Having dispatched Darren Till with a D’arce choke at UFC 228 earlier this month, UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley can now look forward to a huge showdown with his arch rival Colby Covington. Although this Tyron Woodley vs. Colby Covington fight is not official yet, it is possible that the UFC schedules it for the […]